Traveling staircase.



6 0 9 1 1 2 G U A D E T N E n A P T R A U 0 G 0 H Tu B TRAVELINGSTAIRUASB.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1905.

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No 829,152. PATENTED AUG. 21. 1906.

v E. L. HOCQUART.-

TRAVELING STAIROASB.

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B. L. HOOQUART. TRAVELING STAIRGASE.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 6.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTBD AUG. 21', 1906.

UNITED s'ragns rggrnnr OFFICE;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed June 6, 1905. Serial No. 268,905.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDOUARD Louis 1100- QUART, a citizen of the Republicof France, residing at Paris, France, have invented new and usefulImprovements in or Relating to Traveling Staircases, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a traveling stair case with moving hand-rails,and is particularly adapted for transport of persons.

A staircase according to this invention is illustrated, by way ofexample, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows thestaircase in vertical and longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a plan of oneof the steps. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing a roller. Fig. 3is a sectional eleva tion showing a casing for the separate elements ofa step with one of the elements therein. Fig. 4 is an end elevationshowing the separate elements of a step juxtaposed. Fig. 5 is an endview of an elastic split ring. Fig. 6 is a side view of one of thespring-pins detached. Fig. 7 is a side view of a brac et 3 Fig. 8, avertical section through the dotted line of Fig. 7, and Fig. 9a planview corre s ending with Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is an e evation showingseveral elements of a step located in a casing. Fig. 11 is a view in perspective, showin a casing and several elements of a step ocated therein.Fig. 12 is an end view showing the angle-irons for Miding the steps.Fig. 13 is a section and e evation showing the track and one of therollers mounted thereon. Fig. 14 is a cross-section and elevation on aplane through the dotted line in Fi 15 Fig. 15, a longitudinal sectionand e evation; and Fig. 16 a view in perspective, showing theconstruction of the hand-rail. Fig. 17 is a cross-section and elevationshowing the hand-rail.

In all the figures like reference characters wherever they occurindicate corresponding parts.

Each of the steps 17, the construction of which is hereinafterdescribed, is provided on each side with three rollers 18, 19, and 20.The third roller 20 is preferably of a smaller diameter than the twoothers. The latter travel over the whole length of an upper track 21until the ste s arrive at the upper track supporting toot ed wheel 22,which chives them by means of chains connectin r a all the steps, thelinks of the said chains )6- ing pivotedon the pins of the rollers 19.On arriving at the wheel 22 the pins of the rollers 19 are supporteddirectly by this wheel, while the other rollers 18 travel downward alonga guide-curve 23, which forms a continuation of the flat track 21, insuch manner that the step 17, while it remains in engagement with orproximity to an upper fixed platform 24, is maintained in horizontalposition, and afterward it descends and disappears below the saidplatform, as shown in Fig. 1, after the traveler has alighted on theplatform. Then the rollers 18 are stopped in the longitudinal directionby a small track 25, parallel to the curve 23 and intended to retain thesaid rollers, and to prevent the step from swinging out under theinfluence of its weight this curve is arranged in such manner that whatwas the u per roller 20 comes to lie without a shocE on a lower curvedtrack 26, widened to that end and made concentric to the wheel 22 at itsbeginning. The object of this arrangement is to allow the steps to turnwithout fouling each other, which would happen if they were not providedwith the rollers 20. This arrangement has also the advantage of bringingthe steps above the track into the lower hor1zontal portion and ofreducing the space occupied to a minimum.

In order to cause the step to travel on the roller 18, the track of theroller 20 is sepa rated from the track 26 and extended downward, so asto bring the roller 18 into contact with the track 26 without shock.

In order to prevent the steps from fouling each other at the lower endof their travel, another short track 27 raises each step by means of itsroller 20, and thus prevents it from coming into contact with theadjoining step, owing to the suitably-designed curves of the said track.In the same way as in the case of the upper portion this track is at theside of the main track in the interior of the staircase.

At the bottom portion of the ap aratus the track 26 is curved upward anmade parallel to the bottom wheel 22', about which the chain connectingthe rollers of the steps 17 passes.

The upper track 21 is curved downward at this point-thatis to say, atits beg'inning in order that the rollers 18 and 19 may be guided at thebeginning of their ascension between the two main tracks 21 and 26.

In addition to the guides described the steps 17 are provided at eachside with projections 28, parallel to the longitudinal movement of thesteps, the face a b, Fig. 2, of the said projection being parallel tothe axis of the staircase and the wedge-face b 0 being at an angle tothe said axis. These faces engage at the top and bottom (and beforetheir steps engage with each platform or grating) with rollers 29,suitably arranged on brackets 30, secured to the framework on eitherside and adjustable by means of nuts and locknuts, as shown in Fig. 2.

\Vhen the staircase is traveling, the camfaces I) c of the projections28 engage with the rollers 29 and the step moves in such manner that thefaces a I) pass between the said rollers. All these steps come,therefore, into an absolutely-fixed position and engage with theplatforms always under the same conditions.

The bracket 30 is provided with a screw keyed in an openingin theframework, so that by turning the nut when it is desired to adjusttheposition of the roller 29 this bracket can only move longitudinallywithout turn mg.

Each step could be made in one or more parts but it is preferable tomake it of juxtaposed elements. In the presence instance metallicelements or plates 31, which are all alike, are placed into a casing 32,Figs. 3 and 4, in the positions which they are to occupy after theerection. This casing is provided at the sides with, say, three springpins or catches 33, with V-grooved ends intended for exact centering ofeach element 31 in the plane which it is to occupy. The casing isprovided with two machined faces 34 at right angles, into the angle ofwhich fits one of the angles of each of the elements 31. A fourth catch35 besides having a V-shaped recess like the others is provided at itsend with a flat face normal to the faces of the groove and formin a stoplimiting the posi tion of the upper ace of the element 31, so that allthe upper faces of the various elements should be exactly in the sameplane and these elements should all be in the de sired position. Bymeans of a screw 36 the catch 35 is pushed so as to force the element 3against the faces 34, the said element being also applied against thesaid faces by the expansion of the springs of the catches 33.

When an element 31 has been put in place,

another is juxtaposed, Fig. 4. Between the two adjacent elements thereremains a small clearance at the widened portion 37, which latter formsa kind of bearing, through the center of which passes an erecting-tube38, Fig. 11, through which in turn passes a spindle 39, whichparticipates in the tighten ing of the elements. Between two adjoiningelements there is placed in the bearings 37 an elastic or s lit ring 40,Fi s. 4 and 5, the edges of whic rest against t e inner shoulders of thesaid bearings, which ring closes in a tight manner the interval betweenthe latter.

Then all the elements 31, with their rings 40, have been put in place,the side bracket 41, carrying the above-described roller and guidingparts, is mounted on a cover or frame which is fixed. to the end of thecasing. This cover is so arranged that it receives the bracket incorrect position, insured by means of spindles and of the erecting-tube.These parts are then threaded. into the holes of the elements intendedto receive them, the cover secured to the casing in correct position,and the casing 32 placed on feet 42, with which the said cover isprovided, Fig. 10. The clearance between the walls of the bearings 37and the tube 38 is sufficient to enable some suitable material such asmetal, castiron, cement, concrete, &c.to be cast into it. As soon asthese intervals are filled up and properly packed the last bracket isput on, so as to make the cast material to overflow, the nuts aretightened, and the step thus made. The rings 40 form tight jointsbetween. the elements, owing to the compression thus effected. As soonas the operation is finished the step is placed with its flat face on abench arranged to receive it, the casing 32 is removed by removing thecover with the bracket 41 and by unscrewing the screws 36, whereuponanother step can be made with the same casingor mold. finished it isleft until the cast material solidiiies. The step 17 thus forms at thetop a grating the bars 31 of which can pass between the bars of thelower platform 43 and of the upper platform 24 of the staircase, Fig. 1.

In order to avoid the noise that would be caused by the rollers of thesteps traveling on the tracks 21, 26, and 27, the latter are made in aspecial manner-t. e., to the metal part 44 of each track is applied arubber band 45, and on this band is placed a preferably wooden rail 46,secured to the plate or rail 44 by means of metal or wooden screws, Fig.13. At the curves the track may be faced with leather.

In order to uide laterally the steps 17 independently of the rollers 29,angle-irons 47, Fig. 12, are secured to brackets 48, mounted on strin-boards 49, intended to carry the rails. These angle-irons enga c withthe rejections 28 and extend from t 0 lower ro lcrs 29 to the upperrollers, and, if desired, they could re lace these rollers by beingextended to a su ieient extent. These angle-irons are bent at thebeginning, so as to avoid shocks, and their position can be adjustedlike that of the rollers 29.

The handrcsts of the staircase travel with it and at the same linearspeed. Each of them is constituted by a strong canvas or other band 50,Figs. 14, 15, and 16, and a steel band 51, between which is inserted alining 52 of cork or wood. The whole is properly connected together andprovided at After the step is 9 intervals with guide-blocks 53. To theouter band is secured a semi-elastic covering 54 of cork. The band ofsteel, the lining, and the facing of cork are incased in a canvascovering glued in place over them.

The cork facing 54 is slit by transverse or intersecting saw-cuts, Fig.16, whereby a great flexibility is imparted to it, so that it can travelWithout breaking round .the wheels 56 and 57. This facing is coveredwith some material, such as velvet, which is pressed into the saw-cuts,Fig. 15, so as not to be exposed to tension when the hand-rail is bentround a curve. The velvet is glued upon the canvas-covered cork, butonly upon the exterior surface thereof. It is not glued in the saw-cuts,as in such. case it would not accomplish the desired object.

The guide-blocks 53 engage with upper and lower fixed guides 55,secured. to the string-boards of the staircase, Fig. 1. The hand-restconstituted in the manner described passes over two toothed wheels 56and 57, arranged, respectively, at the top and at the bottom of thestaircase, so that the blocks 53 engage between the teeth of the saidwheels for the purpose of drivin the handrest. One only of thesewhoeIs-the top oneis driven by motive power at the same time as thewheel 22, driving the steps, the two latter wheels being properlyconnected in order that the hand-rest should move with the same linearspeed as the steps of the staircase.

The wheels 56 and 57 are made as shown in the drawing in Fig. 17. To therim 58 are secured lateral slightly-flaring cheeks 59, which laterallyinclose the teeth or 111- s with which the blocks 53 engage. On eactooth there is a rojection 60, over which passes the steel band thehand-rest curves exactly in accordance with the pitch of thecorresponding wheel.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. The combination of the platform, the string-boards,lateral guides for the steps, and guiderollers in front of thegrate-shaped platforms, to insure that the steps of corresponding shapeshall engage with the platform without shock.

2. In a traveling staircase, a movable handrest comprising, incombination, a strong band of canvas and a band of steel between whichis laced a suitable lining, the inner steel banr being provided withguide-blocks and the upper band with a facing of cork suitably slottedso as to avoid tension at the curves, and covered with some materialhaving folds pressed into cross-slots in the facing, the band of steel,the lining and the facing of cork being incased in a canvas covering.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twosubscribing witncsses.

HENRI VIGNAUX, IIANSON 0. (10x12.

51, so that the chain formed by I

